[sak9645]

I'm so glad that these phrases were posted. I remember some of them from the days when I took Russian in college. They will be great when parents need something.

I'd like to suggest, however, that another type of phrase book would also be useful to traveling parents. And that is a phrase book based on the words toddlers and young children use. These words are often not the ones that are taught in college Russian classes, or mentioned on language CDs.

As an example, if an American adult needs to discuss bodily functions, he/she may say things like "urinate" or "bowel movement" -- at least if he/she is in polite company! But little American kids usually don't use these phrases, and may not even know what they mean. Toddlers, in particular, may say things like "pee-pee" and "poo-poo". I suspect that the situation is very similar with Russian children.

While you can often figure out what a young child means by observing "body language", it can really help if you understand the words they are speaking. So it would be good if you can say, in Russian, something like, "Do you need to go pee-pee?" and understand something like, "I need to go pee-pee right now." Knowing toddler Russian, in this case, could prevent a major mess!

Another example is words dealing with pain. An adult might speak about a stomach ache or a gastro-intestinal problem. A young child, however, may use a word like "tummy" ache. A grownup may speak of a cut on his finger, while a child might refer to an "owie" or a "boo-boo." Children expect their parents to meet their needs, when they hurt. So it would be a good idea for a parent to know what the child is saying about something that is hurting.

I bet that someone who is fluent in Russian could make a few dollars by writing and selling a "Toddler Russian" phrase book!

Sharon

[Amysue1112]

HOW AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am finally excited about learning Russian again! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPASHIBA! :0) (I know that is not the way to spell it...!)

[nungesser]

Amy, its pronounced more like "spaseeba".

[labdakota]

большое спасибо (hope this is right)
spaseeba bolshoi, nungesser!
Just like your name, you are an "Ace"...

[cathvash]

This is the best overall compilation I've seen! I like that the syllable emhasis/stress is clear. I always botch that up. Thank you so much for this hard work!!!

[doozer22boys]

Thank you!! I learned some basic phrases while we were in trip one, but this will be really helpful. Our older daughter is almost 4 and knows much Russian. We will need alot of help communicating.

[HollyB]

Wanted you to know we are having a great time with these phrases. The kids are laughing on the floor. I'm reading the russian phrase and they are translating it to English. I'm amazed how well they are speaking English. I haven't been able to stump them yet! You are right that some of these are off a bit, but overall are a great reference.
It's the phrases under discipline that are getting the biggest laugh. I'm saying them with my meanest face and sternest voice. (as Rodney Dangerfield said, "I get no respect")

[Shay]

I am so glad these are helpful to you guys! Holly that is hilarious!

Again I can't thank nungesser enough for helping me get these out here to you all!!

[taevans1]

This 6 part guide is awesome! So great to have transliterations along with it.

One thing I noticed is the pet section on page 1 of part 2 is a little messed up. The transliteration and Russian words are off by one line. Shift them up and they match. Except for the "The cat's name is" that is totally wrong.

I tried to edit them in acrobat, but I had issues. Thought you should know in case you'd want to edit them later.

All that aside, the guide is GREAT. wish I had it for our first adoption a year and a half ago of our now 11 year old daughter. We can use it later this year when we adopt our 8 year old daughter! Thanks for posting this reference!

Take care,

Tom

[k8c]

I'd love to have a look at the phrases, but don't have enough privleges to view part one (apparently...). Can anyone help?

I'm living in St. Petersburg, Russia right now. I thought a little cultural immersion--and a few language lessons-- would be helpful while I gather my courage...

Spacebo!

[DebiP]

Shay and Nun I am getting good use out of these....but not retaining much have to keep referring to them....

Thanks again

[wtjames59]

Thanks much. While knowing some Russian, we didn't need it with our 10 month old when we adopted last year. They were very helpful over Easter when we returned for trip 1 of our second adoption - this one a 3 year old bio. brother of our 2 year old son. After brushing up quite a bit via Pimsleur and the phrase guide I was ready to open up some light conversation. I must have sounded a little too good because I could tell he was ready for more and he expected that I understood all he was saying. We worked it out very easily. This information will come in very useful for our trip home and with family who will want to try to be conversive. Thanks much - very helpful!

[amvp15]

THank you for this information..it is a big help!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RussianJen]

Originally Posted by sak9645

I'd like to suggest, however, that another type of phrase book would also be useful to traveling parents. And that is a phrase book based on the words toddlers and young children use. These words are often not the ones that are taught in college Russian classes, or mentioned on language CDs.

Sharon

You're right on, Sharon - may I add a few words/variations on words that I think you'll all find helpful???

First, the phrases are pretty good. The only real change I would make is a small one - just remember, every time you're seeing (and saying) the letter 'e', don't just say it the way we Americans would. Say 'ye'; example: "privet, kak dela?" (Hi, how are you) would be said more like this: "Privyet, kak dyela?"

Just a thought.

So, for some 'toddler talk':

Kids generally don't say 'urine', they say potty, or a similar 'kid word'. Likewise in Russian, kids say a word we Americans don't like particularly, as it's close to a rather vulgar version for us. It's not vulgar in Russian, though. They'll say 'peesat' -
"Ya khachu peesat" - I need to pee (transliterated 'I want to', but kids in Russia rarely say 'I need' - it's almost always 'I want').

The word kids use for poo is 'kaka' (older kids might use more vulgar terms, but we won't go there...assuming this is 'toddler talk', after all...) -
"Ya khachu kakat" - I need to go.

Kids also add lots of suffixes to their words, which may make them hard for you to understand at first. These are pretty much used by parents and caretakers to make things sound sweeter, or gentler...for example, they will often add 'ichka' to the end of a name or word - very often kids will say 'padushichka' or 'Vanichka' or 'kartoshichka', which could leave you scratching your head even though you may have learned the root words they're saying (padushka - pillow; Vanya (common boy's name); kartoshka/kartofyel - potato.) I just thought I'd throw that in for thought - most kids I know use these without even thinking about them.

If a little one doesn't feel good, they usually say 'Ya bolyeeyu' - I'm sick. They'll say this if something hurts or their stomach is upset - they don't generally make a destinction. 'Bolno' (the 'l' in that word is said very soft) means pain, but it also means (especially to kids) something hurts, something doesn't feel right, something is out of order inside them. It doesn't necessarily mean they're feeling pain - just as they could say 'I'm sick' and really mean they scraped their knee, they could say 'it hurts' and mean they feel like throwing up. Just be sensitive and ask 'gdye bolyeet?' - where does it hurt/feel bad? and watch their body language.

To 'throw up' is a tough one, but I put it in here because it'll probably come in handy (and perhaps save you a carpet cleaning session). I can't even begin to list how many different ways people say this in English - synonyms abound. Russian is the same, but little ones will most often say 'virvut' (the 'i' is a letter we don't have in English; it's a real back-of-your-throat 'ee'), or 'toshneet' - which means nautious.

It's getting late and I'm getting kinda tired...if this was helpful at all, I'm glad! If y'all think of more words, please let me know and I'll be happy to share what I've learned living with 100+ Russian orphans - trust me, I've just about seen it all!

-RussianJen <><

[knoonell]

I am so glad to have found these. They have been a lifesaver with our newly home 3 yo from Ukraine. hopefully this will pop them back onto the front page!!